Skill type game utilizing tracks and vehicles

ABSTRACT

A skill-type game which includes a continuously operating selfpropelled playing piece and a three-dimensional obstacle course having simulated hazards thereon defining a playing piece path of travel which must be successfully traversed or completed by the playing piece from a starting point to a completion point. The obstacle course or path of travel is defined by track sections movable in various orientations, including angular, and with some of the track sections selectively movable in an elevator type fashion to meet other multi-level track sections. Some of the hazards are selectively hand manipulatable and have grooves forming tracks to assist the playing piece in traversing the obstacle course. Some of the hazards are optional and may be skipped by a particular player during his attempt to complete the course. In this manner, the track sections must be moved by a player in proper sequences so as to avoid interrupting the continuous movement of the playing piece.

United States Patent Meyer 1 1 SKILL TYPE GAME UTILIZING TRACKS AND VEHICLES [75] Inventor: Burton C. Meyer, Downers Grove.

Ill.

[73] Marvin Glass & Associates,

Chicago. 111.

Filed: Sept. 4, 1974 Appl No.: 503,136

Assignee:

[56] References Cited U NITED STATES PATENTS Primary E.\'aminerPaul E. Shapiro Attorney, Agent, or FirmCoffee and Sweeney [57] ABSTRACT A skill-type game which includes a continuously operating self-propelled playing piece and a threedimensional obstacle course having simulated hazards thereon defining a playing piece path of travel which must be successfully traversed or completed by the playing piece from a starting point to a completion point. The obstacle course or path of travel is defined by track sections movable in various orientations, including angular, and with some of the track sections selectively movable in an elevator type fashion to meet other multi-level track sections. Some of the hazards are selectively hand manipulatable and have grooves forming tracks to assist the playing piece in traversing the obstacle course. Some ofthe hazards are optional and may be skipped by a particular player during his attempt to complete the course. In this manner, the track sections must be moved by a player in proper sequences so as to avoid interrupting the continuous movement of the playing piece.

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t 195 204 D 152 311 2a 1 24 7 2 196 A as 1% 24 U.S. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 1 of4 3,908,989

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 2 of4 3,908,989

US. atant Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 3 of4 Sheet 4 of 4 US. atfint Sept. 30,1975

SKILL TYPE GAME UTILIZING TRACKS AND VEHICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to skill-type games and more particularly to a game of the type wherein a continuous running self-propelled playing piece movable along a track but subject to interruption in its movement pending selective manual-manipulation of simulated hazards in the track by a player.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Perhaps the most common form of game devices are those involving a gameboard, playing pieces, and a chance device for determining the random advancement of the playing pieces along the gameboard. Because games of this type are easily understood and capable of being played by participants of widely divergent ages, they have been popular and, improvements in or new versions thereof, are well received and de sired in the art. The game is unique in providing a selfpropelled playing piece operated by a spring motor or the like, and the player or user of the game is required to manipulate hazards or obstacles along a playing piece path of travel in order to successfully traverse the course.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to an improve ment in games of the type wherein a playing piece is self-propelled and the player or user must manipulate hazards along the course of travel for a successful completion of a game play by avoiding interruption of the continuous movement of the playing piece.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention includes a self-propelled playing piece and means defining an obstacle course having a plurality of hazards or stations which the playing piece is to traverse in given sequence. Each hazard or station has directing means for directing the playing piece toward another station whereby the playing piece will continue to move through the obstacle course until it is manually misdirected while in association with one of the stations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the skill-type game device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of part of the obstacle course of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an angular transport station of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section of the lost motion means for the angular transport station, taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken generally along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the angular transport station properly aligned with a previous station on the third level of the obstacle course of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the fourth level of the obstacle course of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the fifth level of the obstacle course of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the simulated crane associated with the top or uppermost level of the obstacle course of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a front-to-rear vertical section through the self-propelled playing piece of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a vertical section taken generally along the line l1-l1 of FIG, 10; and

FIG. 12 is a vertical section taken generally along the line l212 of FIG. 11.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described hereinafter in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

Looking to FIG. I, the game of the present invention, generally designated 20, includes a base plate 22 which is supported on a table or other supporting structure by a plurality of legs 24. The game 20 includes a plurality of manually manipulatable stations 30, generally designated A through K. Some of the stations 30 are mounted on the base plate 22 and others are mounted on an upwardly extending column type frame structure. generally designated 32, which is similar to the skeleton or steel girders ofa modern building. The game also includes a vertically movable transport station, generally designated 34.

The above-described combination of movable stations 30, transport station 34 and frame structure 32 provide an obstacle course over which a playing piece. generally designated 36, is to traverse in one or more given sequences. The vertical frame structure 32 comprises vertical columns 38 at the four corners and which are interconnected by a plurality of horizontal members 40. Some of the stations 30 are secured to the horizontal members 40, as will be described hercinaf ter.

The playing piece 36, which traverses the obstacle course, is self-propelled and has continuous drive means, generally designated 50, as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. More particularly, the drive means 50 is mounted to a frame 52 which is enclosed in a hollow housing 54 which is formed in the shape of a simulated human figure (see FIG. 1). The housing 54 includes an opening or eyelet 56 at the top thereof for use in conjunction with one of the stations 30, as will be described hereinafter. The drive means 50 includes a negator spring 58 which is secured on one end to a rotatable shaft 60 mounted on the frame 52. The other end of the spring 58 is secured to a second parallel rotatable shaft 62. The shaft 62 mounts a pair of ground engageable drive wheels 64 which move the playing piece 36 along the obstacle course. A square shaft portion 66 extends outwardly beyond the right drive wheel 64, as seen in FIG. 11, and is engageable with a winding key (not shown) having a complementary shaped socket for cocking the spring 58. The key enters the housing 54 through a hole 68 (FIG. 11) in the side thereof.

A locking lever or switch 70 is pivotally mounted on the frame 52 by a rivet 72 and will engage the drive means 50 to prevent rotation of the drive means until the operator is ready, as described below. The lock switch extends rearwardly through another hole 74 (FIG. in the rear portion of the housing 54. A gear 76 is secured to the shaft 62 and engages a gear train. generally designated 77, which acts as a governor to regulate the speed of the drive wheels 64. A final gear 78 of the gear train 77 is mounted on a shaft 79 which extends through the frame 52, to the right as seen in FIG. 11 and terminates in a rectangular enlargement 79a. This shaft 79 is contacted by a cutout 700 on the inner end of the locking lever 70 (see FIG. 10) which prevents rotation of the drive means in the locked position.

A second lever 80 (FIG. 12) is pivotally mounted at 82 to the frame 52 and prevents the spring 58 from completely unwinding from the shaft 62 by engagement with a shoulder 83. A spring 84 biases the lever 80 into contact with the shaft 62. A free-wheeling, rotatably mounted guide wheel 86 is secured to the frame 52 on the shaft 60 at approximately the midpoint of the drive wheels 64 to guide the playing piece 36 along the obstacle course.

The remainder of the specification will be facilitated following a description of the objects and operation of the overall game device 20. Generally the object of the game is to accumulate the highest number of points between all of the players of the game. A certain number of points are awarded to the player who successfully causes the playing piece 36 to reach a particular point along the obstacle course. The transport station 34 is used to move the playing piece through the various levels of the obstacle course and the operation of the transport station 34 will be described below before entering into a discussion of the particular component stations and the sequence in which the stations must be traversed.

The transport station 34, as seen particularly in FIG. 3, represents or simulates an elevator which can move vertically up and down within the vertical structure 32. The transport station has an upper plate 90 and a lower portion 92 which are connected in spaced relation by four corner connecting rods 94. Both the upper plate 90 and the lower portion 92 are provided with two tabs 96 which extend outwardly from opposite corners thereof. The tabs 96 slidably engage extended notches 98 in two of the vertical members 38 as seen in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.

At the beginning of the game, the lower portion 92 rests on the base plate 22 as seen in FIG. 1. As the game progresses, and it is desired to move the playing piece up to another level, the transport station 34 can be moved upwardly within the column 32 by means of a cable 100 which is secured to the top of the upper plate 90 by a hook 102. The cable 100 extends upwardly through the center of the column and through a hole 104 provided in a cap or roof portion 106 and then horizontally to the left, as seen in FIG. 1, to a second hole 108 which is provided in a horizontal tab or arm 110 secured to the roof portion 106 and then downwardly to where the cable is connected to a handle in the form of a simulated I-beam 112. The I-beam can be grasped between the fingers by a player and pulled downwardly in the direction of Arrow X (FIG. 1) to cause the transport station 34 to move upwardly within the column 32. It is possible for a player to stop the transport station at any increment along the vertical path of travel.

Looking to FIGS. 3-5, the lower portion 92 of the transport station includes a generally flat interior web or plate which is circumscribed by a vertical wall 122. A generally flat generally disc-shaped or circular platform 124 is rotatably mounted on the plate 120 by means of a downwardly extending shaft portion 126 ofthe plate engaged within an upwardly extending cylindrical shaft support 128 on the plate 120. A stationary top platform 129 (FIG. 3) is secured or molded integrally with the wall 122 generally flush with the top of disc 124. A track, generally designated 130, extends across the diameter of the disc 124 for engagement with the guide wheel 86 of the playing piece 36 to direct it across the disc 124. The track 130 includes two generally parallel upwardly extending ribs 134 and a second pair of parallel upwardly extending ribs 136 of lesser height between the ribs 134. The inner ribs 136 are wider apart at their ends to facilitate guiding the wheel 36 therebetween.

A lost motion means, generally designated 140 (FIGS. 4 and 5), is provided on the transport station to cause the disc 124 to rotate 90 after engagement with the playing piece 36. More particularly, the lost motion means 140 includes two wheels 142 and 144 which are rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis to the disc 124. The wheels 142 and 144 are positioned just outside of the track 130 so as to engage the drive wheels 64 of the playing piece. The wheel 142 is freely rotatable. The other wheel 144 is connected to a shaft 148 which has a pinion gear 150 secured to the end thereof. The pinion gear 150 engages a ring gear 152 (FIGS. 4 and 5) secured to the plate 120. As the playing piece 36 moves across the track 130 of the transport station its drive wheels 64 will engage the wheels 142 and 144. As the drive wheels continue to rotate, they also will rotate the wheels 144 and 142. Rotation of the wheel 144 causes the pinion gear 150, which is in engagement with a ring gear 152 on the top of plate 20 to rotate the disc 124. Stop means in the form of angularly spaced tabs 156 are provided on the top of plate 120 and will prevent further rotation of the disc 124 as the pinion gear engages the stop tabs. As designed, the stop tabs 156 will permit only approximately 90 rotation of the disc 124. As the pinion gear 150 engages a stop tab 156, the wheel 144 will be prevented from rotating and the playing piece 36 will then move over the wheels 144 and 142 and continue along the track 130 to another station or obstacle.

Thus, it can be seen that as the playing piece enters the transport station in the direction of arrow Y (FIG. 3) and into engagement with the lost motion means 140 the disc 124 will be caused to rotate 90 in the direction of arrow Z (FIG. 3). Likewise, if the playing piece 36 enters the transport station 34 from the opposite end, in a direction opposite that of arrow Y, engagement with the lost motion means 140 will cause the disc 124 to rotate 90 in the direction opposite the direction of arrow Z.

With the understanding of the object of the game and the operation of the transport station, the obstacle course can be described in detail.

The obstacle course can begin at the lowermost edge of FIG. 1 with an inclined ramp 160 upon which the playing piece is positioned. The inclined ramp has a guide groove 162 in the center thereof for engagement therewithin by the guide wheel 86 of the playing piece. The ramp 160 is supported on the base 22 by a depending flange 164 and channel support 166.

The playing piece 36 proceeds onto station A. which includes a horizontally pivotally mounted ramp seg ment 168 having two upwardly directing rib-like tracks or guideways 170. The tracks 170 diverge outwardly adjacent the inclined ramp 160 for ease of movement of the vehicle across the connection. The ramp segment 168 is pivotally supported for movement about a horizontal axis on the top of two upwardly directed flanges 172 engaging the base 22.

The ramp segment 168 (as the left end, FIG. 1, pivots downwardly under the weight of the vehicle) directs the playing piece 36 onto station B which includes a pivotally mounted disc 178. The disc 178 can be manually rotated approximately 90 by a handle 180 which is engageable with stop means in the form of a pair of posts 182 defining the limits of rotational travel.

The disc 178 must be rotated approximately 90 in the direction of arrow M until the handle engages the left (FIG. 1) stop post 182 in order to direct the playing piece onto a stationary track defined by ribs 186 which then direct the playing piece onto the transport station 34. The playing piece will then contact the lost motion means and begin to rotate the disc 124 in the direction of arrow Z. At this time, the user must move the transport station upwardly to the second level at least by the time the disc 124 completes its 90 rotation. At that time, the lost motion means will stop and cause the playing piece to move off the disc 124 and, if the transport station has been properly moved, onto a stationary track defined by ribs on the top of a platform 191 pro truding outwardly from the frame structure 32 as seen on the second level in FIG. 1.

The playing piece then is directed by the tracks 190 onto a spiral track defined by spaced spiral ribs 192 formed on a rotatable drum 194 of station c. The drum 194 is rotatable about a horizontal axis and includes a handle 195 in the form of a spoked wheel to facilitate hand rotation. The drum is supported on the base 22 by two vertically extending tabs 196 which engage a pair of support members 198 secured to the base 22. The user must rotate the drum 194 in order to align the track ribs 192 with the next station and prevent the figure toy or playing piece 36 from falling off of the drum 194.

The next obstacle or station D includes a laddertype structure 200 which is pivotally supported on a shaft 202 at an angle. The shaft has a generally cross-shaped cross section and is supported by a shaft support 204. The shaft support 204 allows the shaft 202 to be rotated as well as moving vertically upward and downward. The ladder 200 includes a generally wavy track defined by ribs 208 to engage the guide wheel 86 of the playing piece. The upper end of the ladder 200 includes an L-shaped lip 210 which is designed to engage on top of ridge 212 on the horizontal member 40 of the next level (FIGS. 1 and 6). A player must first position the left (FIG. 1) end of the ladder to receive the playing piece from the drum 194 and then rotate and lift the ladder 200 in order to properly position it with the lip 210 on the ridge 212 before the playing piece runs off the other end of the ladder. At the same time, the user must also move the transport station up to the third level into alignment with the ladder 200 to prevent the playing piece 36 from falling off of the obstacle course.

The playing piece will then move onto the disc 124 toward engagement with lost motion means for rotating the disc 124 90 in a direction opposite that of arrow Z. The player must at the same time move the transport station upwardly again into alignment with the fourth level containing stations or obstacles E and F.

The playing piece will then be directed off the transport station onto station E. Station E includes a track defined by ribs 216 secured to a plate or platform 218 which can be rotated 180 to direct the playing piece back onto the transport station 34. A thumb wheel 219 (seen FIG. 7) is secured to the bottom of the plate 218 and extends through a hole in a cantilevered support arm 220 (FIG. 7). The thumb wheel includes a stop tab 221 which engages a 180 arcuate ridge 222 having stop shoulders 222a in the support arm to permit only 180 of rotation.

The transport station 34 then will again rotate in the direction of arrow Z by engagement of the playing piece with the wheel 144 and direct the playing piece onto a stationary track defined by ribs 223 which is also on the fourth level as seen in FIGS. 1 and 7. The stationary track 223 directs the playing piece onto station F which includes a track defined by ribs 224. The rotatable track is formed on a disc 225 which is positioned in a recess 225a on an extension of support arm 228. A knob 226 depends from the underside of disc 225 through a hole having stop shoulders 225b permitting rotation of the disc as with station E. The user must again rotate the disc 180 to direct the playing piece 36 back onto the stationary track 223. A stop tab similar to tab 221 of station E (but not shown) is is pro vided on knob 226. The stationary track directs the playing piece 36 back onto the transport station which again rotates the playing piece 90.

The transport station must then be moved up to the fifth level where the playing piece 36 is directed off the transport station onto a stationary track defined by ribs 230. The stationary track 230 directs the playing piece 36 onto a rotatable track 232 of a station G which is manually rotatable in a manner similar to that of stations E and F except that the track can only be rotated 90 at station G. The playing piece is then directed by the rotatable track 232 onto a stationary track 238 which directs the playing piece onto another rotatable track 240 associated with a station H. Station H is identical in operation to station G. The rotatable track 240 directs the playing piece onto a stationary track 244 which then directs the playing piece onto a rotatable track 246 associated with a station .I. The operation of the station J is identical to that of stations H and G. The track 246 then directs the playing piece onto a stationary track 250 which directs the playing piece back onto the transport station. Note that the player must have manually rotated the transport station to align it with track 250. This is done by manually rotating wheel 144. The lost motion means then rotates the playing piece 90 and directs it back onto the stationary track 230. Again the stationary track 230 directs the playing piece onto the movable track 232 of station G.

Instead of continuing on to the stationary track 238 and so on again around the fifth level, a final station K (FIGS. 1 and 9) is used to end the obstacle course. The station K comprises a simulated crane 254 which is pivotally mounted on the roof 106. The crane 254 includes a hook resetting arm 256 which is capable of sliding back and forth along the crane by means of a bracket 258 and is used to position a hook 260 for engagement with the eye 56 of the playing piece. The hook 260 is secured to a cable 262 which runs along the length of the crane and down to the table or other supporting surface where it is connected to a counterweight in the form of a bucket 264 (FIGS. 1 and 9).

The hook 260 is to be positioned near the end of station G in alignment with the track 230 and pivotal track 232 so that as the playing piece 36 moves outwardly toward the end of the station the eye 56 of the playing piece will engage the hook 260 (FIG. 9) (before the playing piece will run over the end of station G) and thus slowly lower the piece back down to the table or other supporting surface. Of course, a player may have trouble hooking the playing piece and can quickly keep the playing piece moving about the tracks on the upper level, possible including the transport station, as he continues to attempt to hook the playing piece.

It should be pointed out that stations F, G, H and/or J may be optional and the player can be awarded extra points for completing them. The player can bypass level four, and the crane of station K can be used to hook the playing piece at stations E or F at level four without the player allowing the piece to travel to level five and through one or more of stations G, H and J.

The scoring can be achieved through a series of indicia printed on 11 signs 270 through 280 positioned along the obstacle course. The signs, as shown, give ten points for traversing the inclined plane 160, points for traversing station A, points for traversing station E, points for reaching the stationary tracks 190,

points for crossing station C, points for successfully crossing the ladder 200, seventy points for reaching station G and points for successfully catching the hook 260 of station K and finally a total of points is achieved if the playing piece successfully reaches the end of the obstacle course. Note that 50 extra points are given if one attempts and successfully completes stations E and F and 75 extra points are awarded if a player successfully traverses stations G, H and J.

An alternate embodiment, generally designated 290, is shown on a portion of the obstacle course in FIG. 2. The alternate embodiment 290 deletes the inclined plate and station C. The playing piece starts at a platform 292 before station A and, on the second level, moves directly onto the ladder 200 of station D.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those familiar with the art.

I claim:

1. A skill-type game comprising:

a self-propelled playing piece having guide means for following a track and ground engageable driven wheels to support and propel the playing piece; and

means defining a generally columnar obstacle course having a plurality of different levels over which the playing piece is to traverse including a plurality of stations at least some of which are mounted at said different levels, stationary track means between at least some of the stations, movable track means as sociated with at least some of said stations, said playing piece guide means being engageable with said stationary and movable track means, and said movable track means being alignable with said stationary track means to maintain said playing piece moving in engagement with said stationary track means.

at least one of said stations defining a transport station which is selectively movable vertically between the levels of the'obstacle course for moving the playing piece from one level to another, the directing means on said transport station including rotatable track means and lost drive motion means associated with said track means for rotating said track means, said playing piece wheels being engageable with said drive means to rotate the rotatable track while the playing piece remains in the same position on said transport station until the rotatable track is aligned with the succeeding track portion.

2. The ski1ltype game of claim 1 including stop means for precluding further rotation of said rotatable track means after a given degree of rotation after which the wheels of the playing piece move over said driving means to continue movement over said obstacle course.

3. The skill-type game of claim 2 wherein a station on a first level is in a different angular orientation with re spect to a station on a second level so that said playing piece is directed by the rotatable track means of the transport station from the track means of the transport station on the first level into proper alignment with the track means of the station on the second level.

4. A skill-type game comprising:

a self-propelled playing piece having guide means for engagement with a track means defining an obstacle course for said playing piece, the obstacle course including a plurality of stations which said playing piece is to traverse in a given sequence including stationary track means between at least some of the stations, each station having manually operable playing piece directing means for directing the playing piece toward another station, said directing means including movable track means associated with at least some of the stations, at least some of said movable track means being selectively and manually alignable with respect to said stationary track means between a receiving position whereat the playing piece will be directed off of the stationary track means and a directing position whereat the playing piece will be directed toward the next sequential station, the playing piece being movable along the track means onto a station only when said directing means is in said receiving position, whereby said playing piece will successfully move along said obstacle course only if a player properly times the movements of the directing means in relation to the speed of the self-propelled playing piece, the directing means for at least one of said stations comprising a drum rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis with said movable track means disposed spirally about the outer surface thereof.

5. A skill-type game comprising:

a self-propelled playing piece having guide means for engagement with a track means defining an obstacle course for said playing piece, the obstacle .course including a plurality of stations which said playing piece is to traverse in a given sequence including stationary track means between at least some of the stations, each station having manually operable playing piece directing means for directing the playing piece toward another station, said directing means including movable track means associated with at least some of the stations, at least some of said movable track means being selectively and manually alignable with respect to said stationary track means between a receiving position whereat the playing piece will be directed off of the stationary track means and a directing position whereat the playing piece will be directed toward the next sequential station, the playing piece being movable along the track means onto a station only when said directing means is in said receiving position, whereby said playing piece will successfully move along said obstacle course only if a player properly times the movements of the directing means in relation to the speed of the self-propelled playing piece, the directing means for at least one of said stations comprising a pivotally mounted simulated ladder upon which said movable track means is disposed in an undulating form.

6. A skill-type game comprising: a self-propelled playing piece, means defining a generally columnar obstacle course having a plurality of levels and a plurality of stations, at least some of said levels mounting some of said stations, each station having playing piece directing means for directing said playing piece toward another station, said directing means being movable between a receiving position whereat the playing piece will be directed off of said obstacle course and a directing position whereat the playing piece will be directed toward the next station, the playing piece being movable along the track means onto a station only when said directing means is in said receiving position, and at least one of said stations defining a transport station selectively movable between said levels for carrying the playing piece from one level to another, whereby said playing piece will successfully move along said obstacle course only if a player properly times the movements of said directing means and said transport station in relation to the speed of the self-propelled playing piece.

7. The skill-type game of claim 6 wherein the directing means at at least one of said stations comprises a generally flat, manually rotatable disc.

8. The skill-type game of claim 6 wherein said directing means on said transport station includes rotatable track means.

9. The skill-type game of claim 8 wherein said directing means includes lost motion drive means associated with said track means for rotating said track means, said playing piece having guide means for engagement with said rotatable track means to maintain said playing piece moving in alignment with said track means, said playing piece including ground engaging wheels engageable with said drive means to rotate the rotatable track while the playing piece remains in the same position on said transport station until the rotatable track is aligned with the succeeding track portion.

10. The skill-type game of claim 9 including stop means for precluding further rotation of said rotatable track means after a given degree of rotation after which the wheels of the playing piece move over said driving means to continue movement over said obstacle course.

11. The skill-type game of claim 10 wherein a station on a first level is in a different angular orientation with respect to a station on a second level so that said playing piece is directed by the rotatable track means of the transport station from the track means of the transport station on the first level into proper alignment with the track means of the station on the second level.

12. A skill-type game comprising: a self-propelled playing piece having an eyelet generally at the top thereof which is engageable by a line and hook to raise or lower the playing piece by a player, means defining an obstacle course having track means for said playing piece and a plurality of stations which said playing piece is to traverse in a given sequence, each station having manually operable playing piece directing means for directing said playing piece toward another station, said directing means being movable between a receiving position whereat the playing piece will be directed off of said obstacle course and a directing position whereat the playing piece will be directed toward the next sequential station, the playing piece being movable along the track means onto a station only when said directing means is in said receiving position, whereby said playing piece will successfully move along said obstacle course only if a player properly times the movement of the directing means in relation to the speed of the self-propelled playing piece.

13. A skill-type game, comprising:

a self-propelled playing piece including drive means associated with ground engageable drive wheels for moving the playing piece along a supporting surface; and

an obstacle course including a plurality of stationary track sections and a plurality of movable track sections, said movable track sections defining a plurality of stations over which said playing piece is to traverse, at least one of said movable track sections being rotatably alignable with respect to said stationary track sections to define a playing piece path of travel thereover, said rotatable movable track section including lost motion drive means associated therewith for rotating the same, and said playing piece ground engageable wheels being selectively engageable with said lost motion drive means to rotate said movable track section while the playing piece remains in the same position on said track section until the same is aligned with a succeeding stationary track means.

14. The skill type game of claim 13 including stop means for precluding further rotation of said rotatable track section after a predetermined degree of rotation, after which the wheels of said playing piece move over said driving means to continue movement to the next stationary track section and over said obstacle course. 

1. A skill-type game comprising: a self-propelled playing piece having guide means for following a track and ground engageable driven wheels to support and propel the playing piece; and means defining a generally columnar obstacle course having a plurality of different levels over which the playing piece is to traverse including a plurality of stations at least some of which are mounted at said different levels, stationary track means between at least some of the stations, movable track means associated with at least some of said stations, said playing piece guide means being engageable with said stationary and movable track means, and said movable track means being alignable with said stationary track means to maintain said playing piece moving in engagement with said stationary track means. at least one of said stations defining a transport station which is selectively movable vertically between the levels of the obstacle course for moving the playing piece from one level to another, the directing means on said transport station including rotatable track means and lost drive motion means associated with said track means for rotating said track means, said playing piece wheels being engageable with said drive means to rotate the rotatable track while the playing piece remains in the same position on said transport station until the rotatable track is aligned with the succeeding track portion.
 2. The skill-type game of claim 1 including stop means for precluding further rotation of said rotatable track means after a given degree of rotation after which the wheels of the playing piece move over said driving means to continue movement over said obstacle course.
 3. The skill-type game of claim 2 wherein a station on a first level is in a different angular orientation with respect to a station on a second level so that said playing piece is directed by the rotatable track means of the transport station from the track means of the transport station on the first level into proper alignment with the track means of the station on the second level.
 4. A skill-type game comprising: a self-propelled playing piece having guide means for engagement with a track means defining an obstacle course for said playing piece, the obstacle course including a plurality of stations which said playing piece is to traverse in a given sequence including stationary track means between at least some of the stations, each station having manually operable playing piece directing means for directing the playing piece toward another station, said directing means including movable track means associated with at least some of the stations, at least some of said movable track means being selectively and manually alignable with respect to said stationary track means between a receiving position whereat the playing piece will be directed off of the stationary track means and a directing position whereat the playing piece will be directed toward the next sequential station, the playing pieCe being movable along the track means onto a station only when said directing means is in said receiving position, whereby said playing piece will successfully move along said obstacle course only if a player properly times the movements of the directing means in relation to the speed of the self-propelled playing piece, the directing means for at least one of said stations comprising a drum rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis with said movable track means disposed spirally about the outer surface thereof.
 5. A skill-type game comprising: a self-propelled playing piece having guide means for engagement with a track means defining an obstacle course for said playing piece, the obstacle course including a plurality of stations which said playing piece is to traverse in a given sequence including stationary track means between at least some of the stations, each station having manually operable playing piece directing means for directing the playing piece toward another station, said directing means including movable track means associated with at least some of the stations, at least some of said movable track means being selectively and manually alignable with respect to said stationary track means between a receiving position whereat the playing piece will be directed off of the stationary track means and a directing position whereat the playing piece will be directed toward the next sequential station, the playing piece being movable along the track means onto a station only when said directing means is in said receiving position, whereby said playing piece will successfully move along said obstacle course only if a player properly times the movements of the directing means in relation to the speed of the self-propelled playing piece, the directing means for at least one of said stations comprising a pivotally mounted simulated ladder upon which said movable track means is disposed in an undulating form.
 6. A skill-type game comprising: a self-propelled playing piece, means defining a generally columnar obstacle course having a plurality of levels and a plurality of stations, at least some of said levels mounting some of said stations, each station having playing piece directing means for directing said playing piece toward another station, said directing means being movable between a receiving position whereat the playing piece will be directed off of said obstacle course and a directing position whereat the playing piece will be directed toward the next station, the playing piece being movable along the track means onto a station only when said directing means is in said receiving position, and at least one of said stations defining a transport station selectively movable between said levels for carrying the playing piece from one level to another, whereby said playing piece will successfully move along said obstacle course only if a player properly times the movements of said directing means and said transport station in relation to the speed of the self-propelled playing piece.
 7. The skill-type game of claim 6 wherein the directing means at at least one of said stations comprises a generally flat, manually rotatable disc.
 8. The skill-type game of claim 6 wherein said directing means on said transport station includes rotatable track means.
 9. The skill-type game of claim 8 wherein said directing means includes lost motion drive means associated with said track means for rotating said track means, said playing piece having guide means for engagement with said rotatable track means to maintain said playing piece moving in alignment with said track means, said playing piece including ground engaging wheels engageable with said drive means to rotate the rotatable track while the playing piece remains in the same position on said transport station until the rotatable track is aligned with the succeeding track portion.
 10. The skill-type game of claim 9 including stop means for precluding further rotation of said rotatable track means aftEr a given degree of rotation after which the wheels of the playing piece move over said driving means to continue movement over said obstacle course.
 11. The skill-type game of claim 10 wherein a station on a first level is in a different angular orientation with respect to a station on a second level so that said playing piece is directed by the rotatable track means of the transport station from the track means of the transport station on the first level into proper alignment with the track means of the station on the second level.
 12. A skill-type game comprising: a self-propelled playing piece having an eyelet generally at the top thereof which is engageable by a line and hook to raise or lower the playing piece by a player, means defining an obstacle course having track means for said playing piece and a plurality of stations which said playing piece is to traverse in a given sequence, each station having manually operable playing piece directing means for directing said playing piece toward another station, said directing means being movable between a receiving position whereat the playing piece will be directed off of said obstacle course and a directing position whereat the playing piece will be directed toward the next sequential station, the playing piece being movable along the track means onto a station only when said directing means is in said receiving position, whereby said playing piece will successfully move along said obstacle course only if a player properly times the movement of the directing means in relation to the speed of the self-propelled playing piece.
 13. A skill-type game, comprising: a self-propelled playing piece including drive means associated with ground engageable drive wheels for moving the playing piece along a supporting surface; and an obstacle course including a plurality of stationary track sections and a plurality of movable track sections, said movable track sections defining a plurality of stations over which said playing piece is to traverse, at least one of said movable track sections being rotatably alignable with respect to said stationary track sections to define a playing piece path of travel thereover, said rotatable movable track section including lost motion drive means associated therewith for rotating the same, and said playing piece ground engageable wheels being selectively engageable with said lost motion drive means to rotate said movable track section while the playing piece remains in the same position on said track section until the same is aligned with a succeeding stationary track means.
 14. The skill type game of claim 13 including stop means for precluding further rotation of said rotatable track section after a predetermined degree of rotation, after which the wheels of said playing piece move over said driving means to continue movement to the next stationary track section and over said obstacle course. 